Chapter 2: Class D

The sliding door clicked softly as Winner pushed the handle.

He stepped into a bright room, with plain white walls, where an almost artificial calm reigned.

The students were already there. About twenty pairs of eyes briefly turned toward him… then quickly looked away.

As if he were just another pawn on an already overcrowded chessboard.

Winner moved forward without saying a word.

He observed the faces. Closed expressions, forced smiles.

Everyone seemed to wear a mask.

A girl in the back was nervously tapping her pen, while a boy to the right laughed a little too loudly at a joke that clearly hadn’t been made.

This room breathed neither unity nor trust.

He sat near the window, back against the wall, as he always did.

From there, he could see everything without being seen.

A silent observer.

No one paid him any attention.

Perfect.

A few minutes later, the door opened abruptly.

A figure entered.

A woman, young, with a strict posture but a gentle smile.

She was their homeroom teacher.

On her badge was written: Miss Liana Astar.

She placed a tablet on the desk and scanned the class with her gaze.

A respectful silence immediately settled.

"Welcome to Class D, future masters of this world."

A small mocking laugh echoed.

Miss Astar didn't react.

"I’ll get straight to the point.

Here, you are in the last class.

Not because you are the weakest, but because you are... the most unpredictable.

And in this system, the unpredictable is dangerous. It must be monitored."

Winner allowed himself the faintest smile.

She had just confirmed what he had already guessed:

Class D was a nest of potential.

Raw talents, ignored by a blind… or cautious system.

The teacher continued, her tone calm:

"Each month, you will receive 100,000 individual points.

This is your only resource.

With these points, you must buy your food, your supplies, your special authorizations... everything.

Your daily actions can earn or cost you points.

Cheating, violence, chatting... everything has a price here."

She tapped on her tablet.

Beep.

A chart appeared on the wall screen.

Class A shone with 980,000 points.

Class D, on the other hand, had only the basic 100,000. Not a single point more.

"If you misbehave, if you lose focus, if you fail exams, your balance will drop.

And with it… your chances of survival here.

Conversely, good performance will make you rise.

And if you are truly exceptional, the entire class can progress.

From D to C, then B… until A."

A slight murmur ran through the room.

Winner, however, remained motionless.

He understood.

The system was clear.

Simple on the surface, but dangerously tricky.

Because it depended on others.

And trusting strangers was already playing with fire.

Miss Astar concluded:

"Those who fail to adapt will be forgotten.

Those who understand the rules... will bend them to their will."

She turned off the tablet.

"Oh, I almost forgot.

The first special exam will take place in one month.

Be ready. Or fall."

A long silence followed her exit.

Winner slowly turned his head toward the class.

His cold gaze analyzed, evaluated.

Some were already trying to form alliances.

Others, to play the leaders.

He didn’t need to make a show.

It’s not on the chessboard that you control the game.

It’s from the shadows.